Thieves snatched a school's computer equipment just hours after it was delivered.

The headteacher of St John's Primary, Benwell, Newcastle, hit out at the thieves who forced their way in to steal scanners.

Now the school must divert money from its tight budget to spend on new security measures.

The break-in happened at the end of the school day - when the building is normally packed with pupils at after-school clubs.

Headteacher Julia Bayes said three teenage boys were spotted by a caretaker breaking into the staff room.

She said: "They couldn't smash the toughened glass so they prised the window open.

"The cleaners were at the other side of the building. Our caretaker saw them and she called the police.

"Three of our new scanners which hadn't been installed yet had been left there. They just hopped in and out again, They must have known they were there."

Mrs Bayes said pupils were upset when their teachers told them they would not be getting the scanners and the school may not be able to pay £200 for replacements as most of next year's budget has already been allocated.

"We had to wait a long time to make sure there was money in the budget for the scanners and we can't even say that we will be able to replace them now," said Mrs Bayes.

The technology would have given teachers the chance to display the school's 157 pupils work on interactive "smart boards."